INTERVIEW: By China, for China: how we built the DISAMATIC C5
DISA’s project team reveals the design story behind its new moulding machine for the Chinese market
DISAMATIC C5 INTERVIEW
17 AUGUST 2026
[Nick Xu]
“If you are ready to take the next step up with your production, the DISAMATIC C5 is for you.”
Nick Xu, Technical Transfer Supervisor, DISA.
[Lars Hjelm]
“The C5 delivers fast, high quality moulding with the lowest total cost of ownership and cost per casting.”
Lars Hjelm, Global Product Manager for Moulding, DISA.
At Metal China in May 2026, DISA launched the DISAMATIC C5. This all-new medium-format vertical, green-sand moulding line combines quality and performance with smart engineering optimization to give ambitious Chinese foundries the DISAMATIC they need.
We talked to Nick Xu, DISA Technical Transfer Supervisor, and Lars Hjelm, DISA’s Global Product Manager for Moulding, to get the inside story on how this groundbreaking machine was born.
Lars and Nick, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. You were both deeply involved in the development of the C5. First of all, why did DISA decide to produce this kind of machine?
Nick: When we started the project in mid-2023, we knew we wanted a medium-format machine that would fill an important gap in our DISAMATIC range and produce 400 uncored and 340 cored moulds per hour. An 800 x 600mm mould fits many common casting sizes, it is a very popular format in China that DISA hasn’t offered until now. To make the most of China’s incredible manufacturing infrastructure, we would build the C5 here at Norican’s Changzhou manufacturing centre.
A lot of our customers trust DISA and want a DISAMATIC because they know they are reliable, profitable, 24/7 workhorses that keep running for decades and are backed by our strong support network. They were asking us for a machine like this because they are tired of cheap but high-maintenance moulding lines that keep failing. We wanted to help them move up to their own DISA.
What were the original design goals?
Nick: Our main challenge was to bring DISAMATIC benefits — speed, quality, uptime and productivity — to market with the very lowest total cost of ownership.
To achieve this, we knew we needed an all-new design specifically for China.
Even though the DISAMATIC C3 is a popular, respected machine here, we didn’t base the C5 on the C3. It’s a completely new generation.
We have engineered the C5 to be even more reliable and productive, to need very little maintenance and have a very long life and, of course, to deliver the excellent casting quality expected from DISA.
How did you run the project?
Lars: Our Danish, Chinese and Indian teams worked very closely together and put a huge amount of engineering effort into all aspects of the machine. Although we combined completely new parts with high-end but proven components like the DISAMATIC D5’s sand valve, we made no assumptions. We rethought every part and every assembly to bring DISAMATIC performance to this market segment.
For example, we 3D-modelled and ran finite element analysis on many components so we could value-optimize their designs and materials without compromising on performance or reliability. We made full use of our Chinese supply chain, in line with Norican’s smart localization strategy where we manufacture and source components domestically in different global markets to give our local customers the best value.
Tell us more about how you applied this “made here, for here” strategy.
Lars: We were careful to choose popular, high-volume components, which are easy to source anywhere in China. So, although the C5 still uses high-quality components from familiar brands like Siemens and Rexroth, almost every part of the machine is made domestically, from sheet metal to castings to the control system electronics.
To achieve this, we worked hard with our suppliers to engineer localized designs that maximize precision and efficiency, while performing well over a long lifetime. This is how the C5 can deliver fast, high quality moulding with the lowest total cost of ownership and cost per casting.
Using close to 100% domestic components and building the machine here also means we don't use a lot of energy to transport the parts around the world. That has obvious benefits for sustainability.
Did you look at the assembly process too?
Nick: That was a big focus for my team at Changzhou. We wanted suppliers to machine and pre-assemble parts, check quality and test functionality, then give the modules to us. Then assembly and final testing is all we do at the Changzhou plant.
For example, we spent a lot of time working with Rexroth and they now supply a complete hydraulic power unit to our design. Because it’s pre-tested and ready to go, we can install it within minutes rather than taking weeks to build it ourselves.
We also source the moulding chamber pre-built and pre-tested. That reduces our assembly time from 2 weeks to 15 minutes. With all these pre-tested modules, we can build quickly and efficiently, and be very confident that everything is already working when we turn the key for the final machine checks.
I heard you are patenting the C5’s sand chamber design.
Nick: Yes, this is one of five new patents on the C5. Normally it’s built up from multiple parts but this is the first DISA machine ever to use a single large casting for the sand chamber. Our local partners cast and then machine it to the very close tolerances we demand.
The new chamber performs perfectly but costs significantly less to make and fit. Denmark is learning from China here, it will use the same approach for other new machines in future.
Another patent covers the C5’s side-mounted, three-area hydraulic cylinder which is a new version of an existing DISA design. It combines two functions in a single, very compact cylinder: high squeeze force for uniform sand density while also moving the swing plate very quickly to allow the squeeze plate to release and transport the mould.
The engineering R&D investment for this machine is enormous! Are there any other innovations you can share?
Lars: The C5’s mould transport line (AMC) is a brand new design too. We reduced the number of components and removed a lot of iron to lighten it, yet the new design is twice as stiff. We’re patenting that as well and intend to use it with other DISA lines in future.
The C5’s Automatic Coresetter (CSE) is another completely new design that will arrive in Q3 this year. In contrast, we have reworked and optimized the Synchronized Belt Conveyer design (the SBC extends the in-mould cooling time for castings after pouring). It now uses standard Chinese materials, is lighter and much easier to manufacture.
The C5 is also the first DISA line where we’ve worked with an industrial design agency to style the outside of the machine. I think it looks pretty smart — inside and out!
How else did you maximize the C5’s uptime?
Lars: We made it very fast and simple to exchange service parts like hydraulic filters and also critical wear parts like tie rod bearings. Our completely new design for the tie rod assembly makes it much easier and quicker to replace and is another patented C5 component.
The C5 can take 800 x 600 pattern plates from older machines, which makes it fast to install and ramp up to full production. Like all new DISA lines, it comes pre-fitted with a NoriGate for instant connection to our Monitizer digital solution.
When will foundries be able to own their own C5?
Nick: We officially launched the DISAMATIC C5 at Metal China in May 2026 and the first prototype is already pledged to a greenfield foundry project in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
To sum up, why should ambitious Chinese foundries make their next line a DISAMATIC C5?
Nick: We put everything into this machine to deliver DISA performance with a Chinese twist for the 800 x 600mm market. The C5 is right on the cutting edge of technology. No other medium-format moulding machine combines this level of reliability, speed and value. We have customers here where a single DISA line produces more moulds than two competitor machines combined, and the C5 is going to build on that record.
The C5 can be produced here because DISA has invested heavily in domestic manufacturing in China for many years. Our customers can now buy entirely Chinese-made complete foundries from DISA with a C5 line, Simpson sand tech, and Wheelabrator shot blasting.
Where others try to sell cheap, inferior copies of our designs, we keep innovating to make premium, high-quality DISA moulding accessible to as many foundries as possible. If you are ready to take the next step up with your production, the DISAMATIC C5 is for you.
Nick and Lars, thank you for your time!
More Information
For more information on the C-line, please visit Disamatic C Lines or contact your local DISA team.
Notes for Editors
About DISA
DISA Industries A/S, based in Taastrup, Denmark, is a global leader in metal casting and moulding technology. With over 125 years of engineering expertise, DISA provides the highest quality green sand foundry solutions. It is renowned for delivering the lowest mismatch in the industry, most casting per hour and unmatched uptime and reliability. As part of Norican, DISA serves foundries in over 100 countries with expert consultation, unrivalled equipment and full-service support. Learn more at https://www.disagroup.com.
About Nick Xu
As DISA’s Technical Transfer Supervisor, Nick Xu forms the vital technical link between the R&D department in Denmark and the production facilities in China. Working closely with DISA’s engineering and manufacturing teams, Nick adapts designs and materials to suit local production in China and manages technical communications with suppliers.
Nick feeds back information to the development team for design modifications that improve manufacturability, assembly efficiency and overall product quality, and ensures that all engineering changes are properly communicated and implemented.
About Lars Hjelm
Lars has experience in almost every aspect of service, from large machines and core shooters to robots and major projects. Lars joined DISA in 1986 as an automatic mechanic in the testing department. Over the years, he has traveled the world as part of the service team, setting up DISA machines and equipment. He spent two years working in Chicago as part of the North American service team.
Today, Lars is Global Product Manager in DISA’s product management team, where he worked on the design and development of the new DISAMATIC C5. Currently, Lars is involved in developing the upcoming DISAMATIC D7.